Kemble Interiors Revives a 1940s Palm Beach Retreat

April 15, 2016

After years of house hunting in Palm Beach, Maureen Carr and her husband Walter Nollmann fell in love with the historic charm of this 1940s Mediterranean Revival the moment they walked in the door. Nestled behind trademark Palm Beach hedges on a quiet palm-lined street, this home was built by John Volk, one of Palm Beach’s most prolific architects who designed for clients such as the Vanderbilts, Fords, and Pulitzers. The couple wanted their home to feel truly Floridian, so they turned to a design team – Celerie Kemble and Lindsey Herod of Kemble Interiors – as classically Palm Beach as the home itself. With the couple’s input, Celerie and Lindsey designed a palette straight out of a Lilly Pulitzer catalogue.

“As soon as I open the front door, I’m happy,” says Carr. “I can’t wait to put fresh flowers on the table, go for a walk down to the beach, and then come home and kick back by the pool with my family.”

Fresh Citrus Kitchen

In the kitchen, a pale lime green coats the cabinets and backsplash, accented with white Corian countertops, lemon accessories, and a chandelier the color of pink grapefruit. “The kitchen is like one big bowl of citrus,” says Herod.

Sunny Breakfast Nook

The citrusy colors spill over into the breakfast room, where orange tree-patterned draperies by John Rosselli and Associates create a sunny Florida vibe. The rattan chairs, from Circa Who, are Italian, and the Knoll table is from Wayfair.

The dining room’s mint-hued walls and ceilings take their cues from a painting of a lifeguard stand the owners scooped up in Manhattan and vintage dining chairs Herod re-covered in green faux leather.

Easygoing Family Room

To keep the mix of bold and pastel shades beach-friendly and casual, the designers incorporated plenty of natural textures into the walls and decor. In the family room, pecky cypress ceilings and grasscloth walls pair with bamboo accessories like curtain rods and a bar cart scored at a Dixie Highway antiques shop. “Organic details like these really freshen up the room,” says Herod.

Colorful Living Room

“In Florida, there’s endless inspiration in the landscape,” says Herod. “So we pulled from the views outside—the pink of hibiscus, the turquoise of the ocean, and the greenery that surrounds the home.”

Peachy Keen Bedoom

“We knew that Celerie grew up here, and she also isn’t afraid to use color,” Nollmann said. “We wanted to take advantage of the fact that it’s Florida—you can paint your bedroom pink or teal and it makes perfect sense.” Pale pink walls (painted Coral Buff by Benjamin Moore) give this guest room a welcoming, rosy glow.

Bright, Cheery Exterior

Just beyond an emerald wall of boxwoods on a quiet, palm-lined street, a whitewashed home with electric blue shutters rises like the sun peeking over the horizon line. Amid the glamour of Palm Beach, the 1940s house had persisted as glitzy estates and modern manses with square footage in the five digits had grown up around it.

BONUS IMAGES!

The picture above and the three below are sneak peeks that didn’t make it in the magazine, from photographer Jessica Glynn’s fabulous blog!